Resources: News & Announcements

01/03/2013 — Veterans Information Portal (VIP) PIN Reset and User Reactivation Process —This circular conveys the new security process and procedures needed to better secure Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) data and to establish routine procedures that ensure continuous safeguards are followed in the portal or the VIP. VA anticipates that these new security procedures for the VIP user reactivation process and pin changes will be completed swiftly. This circular describes steps to be followed by lender/servicer administration points of contact (POCs) to validate their organization’s users, and the instructions to resume normal processing procedures. circular 26-13-2.

01/03/2013 — Veterans Information Portal (VIP) Work Procedures During User Reactivation Process —This circular should be read in conjunction with Circular 26-13-2, which outlines in greater detail security changes relating to Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) VIP. To strengthen information security, VA is updating procedures and revalidating user access to the VIP. Although VA anticipates the VIP user reactivation process to be completed swiftly, until users are revalidated, they will have to modify normal work procedures in several areas. This circular describes processes to be followed until lender users are reactivated and can resume normal processing procedures. circular 26-13-1.

12/1/2011 — Information on Loan Limits for 2012! — VA has not yet received the county median prices on which loan limits are calculated, although we expect to have the information in the very near future. Once received, we will post loan limits on our website. Additional information is available on the 2012 loan limits.

11/22/2011 — Latest Funding fee Update!! On November 21, 2011, President Obama signed HR 674, Vow to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 that includes a provision to revert funding fees to their former higher level through September 30, 2016. We have released circular 26-11-19, which provides more information. Please monitor this site and the Funding Fee Payment System site for information.

11/17/2011 — Update on VA Funding Fee!! — VA circular 26-11-18, Funding Fee Updates has been posted. PLEASE read this circular for the latest information on upcoming changes to VA funding fees.

10/11/2011 — Important Notice:
UPDATE ON LOANS CLOSED ON OR AFTER OCTOBER 1, 2011: VA FFPS has been updated to calculate correct fees for loans closed on or after October 1, 2011. Loans closed October 1 through October 5th will be calculated at the lower rates, while those closed on or after October 6th will be calculated at the higher rates. Lenders may now submit payments for loans closed during any time period.

Please review circular 26-11-15 for more information on funding fees. We expect to release another circular shortly with additional information.

Please note that absent Congressional action, the fees are set to decline again on November 18, 2011. PLEASE monitor this page for updates. We will pass on information as soon as we get it.

10/1/2011 — Important Notice:
LOANS CLOSED ON OR AFTER OCTOBER 1, 2011: Due to legislation affecting funding fees that has passed both houses of Congress and is awaiting the President's signature, lenders should not submit payments for loans closed on or after October 1, 2011, until further notice. This issue should be resolved within the next several days. If the President signs the legislation, it will in effect keep funding fees at their FY2011 rates through November 17, 2011. This means the changes set to take effect per Circular 26-11-12, might only be in effect for a very short time.

For cases where lenders have closed loans with lower funding fees than provided in the new bill, the Secretary, under existing authority, will waive the difference in the fees.

PLEASE monitor this page for updates. We will pass on information as soon as we get it and also release a circular if and when the bill is signed.

9/29/2011 — The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Loan Guaranty Service announces that Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant amounts will remain unchanged in fiscal year 2012 from fiscal year 2011 amounts. Additional information is available on Special Adapted Housing grant amounts.

9/28/2011 — Uniform Appraisal Dataset (UAD) — As of September 1, 2011, VA will accept, but not require, UAD compliant reports.

8/12/2011 — Information is available for the upcoming 2011 VA Lenders Conference being held in Indianapolis, Indiana October 13-14, 2011. A tentative itinerary is also available for the event.

8/3/2011 — Maximum Guaranty Limits — October 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011: The maximum guaranty for VA guaranteed loans closed October 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011 will remain unchanged.

5/26/2011 — If you have been affected by the recent natural disasters, which includes tornados, flooding, and wild fires throughout different parts of the country, please review VA's information on Natural Disaster Assistance. If you have any questions, please contact your nearest VA Regional Loan Center toll-free at (877) 827-3702. For additional information regarding the recent tornado outbreaks, please view our circular.

5/2/2011 — If you have been affected by the natural disasters in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee, please review VA's information on Natural Disaster Assistance. If you have any questions, please contact your nearest VA Regional Loan Center toll-free at (877) 827-3702. For additional information regarding the recent tornado outbreaks, please view our circular.

4/5/2011 — Effective April 1, 2011, VA guaranteed home loan operations will transfer from Manchester, New Hampshire to Cleveland, Ohio. Additional information is available for the Home Loan Operations transfer.

2/4/2011 — Trouble making your payments? If you have a VA loan, but are having trouble making your mortgage payments, it is very important that you take steps to avoid a foreclosure. VA may be able to help.

12/3/2010 — Important Notice: VA Loan limits for 2011 have now been posted. Please note the limits apply for loans closed January 1, 2011 through September 30, 2011. It's also important to note that VA has no maximum loan amount; however, loan limits are established to determine the maximum guaranty for a particular county.

12/3/2010 — Important Notice: On December 5, 2010, TAS functionality which allows lenders to request an appraisal and which allows Staff Appraisal Reviewers to issue Notice of Values (NOVs), is being transferred to WebLGY. Instructions for using TAS functions that have been migrated to WebLGY.

10/5/2010 — Important Notice: On September 30, 2010, the President signed the National Flood Insurance Program Reextension Act of 2010, which Congress passed on September 24, 2010. This extends the National Flood Insurance Program until September 30, 2011.

9/8/2010 — Important Notice: Effective September 13, 2010, Loan Guaranty Service will temporarily relocate from Washington, DC to Alexandria, VA. The new physical address for Loan Guaranty Service will be 2051 Jamieson Avenue, 6th Floor, Alexandria, VA 22314.

2/25/2010 — Please visit the National Resource Directory, an online partnership for wounded, ill and injured service members, veterans, their families and those who support them.

1/14/2010 — We are pleased to be able to provide the Appraisal Fees and Timeliness Schedules for all states.

VA Announces the newly revised Handbook for Design — Specially Adapted Housing for Wheelchair Users.

We are pleased to announce our new Staff Appraisal Reviewer (SAR) Information page.

IN THE NEWS:

Effective immediately, Certificates of Eligibility will no longer display a veteran's date of birth. This change was made to limit the amount of personal data being displayed on Certificates of Eligibility. Please note, however, that veterans will still need to provide their date of birth when submitting an application for a determination of eligibility in order to process their request.

VA Reaching Out to Vets with Mortgage Problems. Important information is available to veteran homeowners. Additionally, the VA provides additional information and assistance for Veterans.

Enhanced VA Mortgage Options Now Available for Veterans Of Potential Benefit to Those in Financial Distress.

On October 10, 2008, the President signed § 3023, the Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2008. This information is important for Veteran homeowners.

If you have been affected by natural disasters, disaster advise for Veteran homeowners is available.

Public Law 110-289 has expanded the Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant program, and increased SAH grant amounts. Please note that updates to 2101(a) Grant Fact Sheet — January 2010 and 2101(b) GrantFact Sheet — January 2010 have been posted, and can be found at http://www.ebenefits.va.gov.

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